ISSUE: 132
Charu Choudha’s interaction design journey has been an extremely interesting experience so far!
How were you drawn to design?
CC: I was born and brought up in a small town in the central region of India. Growing up, I always pursued art and craft projects on the side. Little did I know that this could be a gateway to my career! A decade ago, every kid from a small town wanted to make it big by becoming an engineer or a doctor, since there was lack of awareness about other career options back then. Although it was clear to me that engineering was not my passion, it wasn’t an easy decision for my family to let me pursue design. In 2010, I went to Mumbai to do a Bachelor’s in Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, specializing in Communication Design. As I entered college, I was thrilled every day as I never thought I’d ever be studying design.
Zomato Gold
What inspires you?
CC: I am inspired by personal and intellectual growth every day. I love listening to stories about people who started from nowhere and created their unique identity in any walk of life, not just design. I have a collection of movies, books, music, poems, and artworks that I revisit when I need inspiration.
How do you deal with a creative block?
CC: I don’t have creative blocks anymore. I have figured out with time that for me creative blocks are actually burnout, and if not taken care of, they can have a deteriorating impact on my productivity.
Hence, I try to be conscious and listen to my body – I believe it starts showing me signs when I am burnt out – and I take a step back from the treadmill of day-to-day life, and introspect. Generally, the signs are short attention span and inability to get things done – then I know it’s time to read that book, watch that movie, go for a walk or plan a vacation.
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